The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is established in the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living to represent the interests of older persons and persons with disabilities under 60 years of age receiving long-term care in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the Older Americans Act. Subject to the provisions of 42 U.S.C. § 3058g, the Department may operate the Office and carry out the program directly or by contract or other arrangement with any public agency or nonprofit private organization. The Office shall be headed by the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. (Added 1989, No. 251 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1993, No. 132 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1995, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2005, No. 56, § 3, eff. June 13, 2005; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 139; 2017, No. 23, § 1.)